Keg closure



March 1, 1949. v. ALVEAR 2,462,930

KEG CLOSURE' Filed Oct. 17, 1945' 2 Shets-Sheet l "Mame ALI/54EINVENTOR.

March 1, 1949. v. ALVEAR 2,462,930

KEG CLOSURE Filed Oct. 17, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 We 7'02 AL VE/IE IN VENTOR.

Patented Mar. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE KEG CLOSURE;

Victor Alvear, Clifton. N. J.

Application October 17, 1945, Serial No. 622,795

Claims, (Cl. 217- 98) This invention relates particularly to bungs forbeer kegs and the like,

In the ordinary keg when it is desired to empty the contents, thestopper, which is usually in the form of a cork, is knocked out of thebung hole and often becomes lost or damaged necessitating replacement,which is costly and inconvenient.

Sometimes also the cork remains in the keg after it has been washed andresort is had to spearing the cork in order to recover it with resultantdamage to the keg. Leakage is also liable to develop around the ordinarycork and it is sometimes accidentally blown out.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bung for a keg inwhich the stopper is a fixture on the keg and cannot become lost and thechance of its becoming damaged is reduced to a minimum.

Another object is to provide means for bringing the stopper or plug toalignment with the bung hole by gravity where it can easily be movedinto closed position.

Another object is to provide a stopper with means for readily graspingit with a tool and with means for sealing the opening in the bung.

Another object is to eliminate hammering and pounding on the barrel headand to eliminate spearing of corks.

Another object is to facilitate tapping of the keg.

Another object is to provide a stopper that is sanitary, simple inconstruction and economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a stopper that cannot leak or blow outregardless of the pressure in the keg thereby providing an air-tightseal.

Another object is to provide a stopper that is self-sealing.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional View of the improved ring with theplug in position in the ring and the pendulous member which carries theplug.

Fig. 1a is a side view of a tool for drawing the plug into closingposition.

Fig. 2 is a view of the tool of Fig. 1a showing how it is connected tothe plug.

Fig. 3 is an inside end view of the plug.

Fig. 4 is an end view of the tool.

Fig. 5 is another sectional View of the ring with the pendulous memberand plug tilted out of position,

Fig. 6 is a side view of the pendulous member.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the ring.

The keg 6 has a screw threaded opening 1 into which the metallic ring 8is screwed. The latter may have bayonet slots 9 for the insertion of atool for inserting and removing the ring. The ring has a central passageI0 preferably circular in cross-section.

The plug l l formed of a resilient material such as nylon plastic whichis durable and not affected by the liquid in the keg and adapted to fitthe passage in the ring. This plug is mounted on a rod I2 which iscarried by a pendulous carrier memher is pivoted at M on the innersurface of the ring 8. The projecting side arms [5, l5 serve to slidablysupport the rod l2. Themass of the carrier member is so disposed as tohang with the plug and its rod vertically and in line with the passagein the ring when the ring is horizontal. The carrier member may beprovided with an enlarged portion on its lower end as shown, The rod i2has a projection IE on the end to serve as a stop to prevent the rod andplug from being detached. The plug has a flange l! which abuts againstthe inner edge of the passage l 0 when the plug is in place. The plugmay have a chamber it so that the pressure in the keg acting against thewall of the chamber assists in holding the plug in position.

When the carrier member is swung to vertical position and the upper endof the plug ll enters the lower end of passage Ill in the ring member,the pressure of gas within the keg Will force the plug upwardly untilthe flange l'l engages the lower edge of the passage in the ring.

The plug is pushed inwardly by a draw rod used for drawing liquid fromthe keg. To replace the plug, a tool 20 such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 :and4 can be used. Here the jaws 2| are shaped to grip the knob :9 of theplug. It is merely necessary to insert the tool into the passage H] inthe ring 8, then hook the jaws sidewise into engagement beneath the knoband then pull the plug II outwardly into the passage I I].

I claim:

1. A metallic ring having a pendulous member hinged to said ring, a plugfor fitting the hole in said ring and having a rod connected to saidplug, said pendulous member having a lateral projection slidablysupporting said rod and plug.

2. A metallic ring having a rigid pendulous member hinged to the innersurface, a plug for fitting the hole in said ring and spaced armscarried by said pendulous member and swingable therewith for slidablysupporting said plug in all positions, said plug having a flange forseating against the inner rim of the hole in said ring, when moved tohole-fitting position.

3. A metallic ring having a rigid, pendulous member hinged to the innersurface, a plug for fitting the hole in said ring and spaced supportsinte ral with said pendulous member for slidably sup orting said plug inaligned position with said hol for movement into or out of said hole andfor upporting said plug when moved away from sai hole. v

4. A keg closure comprising a ringfor insertion into an opening in thewall of a keg and having a matically forced by the pressure of gaswithin the keg into said passage for sealing the same.

5. A keg closure as defined in claim 4 in which the pendulous member isprovided with an enlargement at its free end for urging and holding theslidable rod and plug in normal aligned position with the passage in thering.

VICTOR ALVEAR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 222,094 Stewart Nov. 25, 1879306,527 Rueter Oct, 14, 1884 629,304 Rawlins July 18, 1899 2,081,131Barnes May 25, 1937 "Schlabaugh et a1. Dec. 15, 1942

